Tent Embassy 40th Anniversary Broadcast

On Thursday 26 January 2012 3CR broadcast live from 12 - 4pm from the 40th anniversary of the Tent Embassy site in Canberra. Featuring news, live updates, music and interviews with Indigenous activists from around the country the programming was presented by 3CR broadcasters Robbie Thorpe and Johnny Harding in Canberra and Gilla McGuinness and Kutcha Edwards in Melbourne.

(Image above: Rough and ready radio! The 3CR live broadcast tent at the 40th anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy. Robbie Thorpe interviewing Uncle Lyle from Illawarra, with Johnny Harding in the foreground. Photo by Diana Beaumont.)

Listen to some highlights!

Aboriginal Provisional Government
Marge reads the Invasion Day Statement from the Aboriginal Provisional Government and chats to Robbie Thorpe about the need to recognise sovereignty. Listen now (8.3MB / 9:03min)

Michael Anderson
An interview with Michael Anderson, the last living member of the four activists who planted beach umbrellas on the lawns of Old Parliament House in 1972 and kicked off one of the longest political protests in Australian history. Listen now (4.4MB / 4:47min)

Lyle Munro
3CR broadcast live throughout the celebrations at the Tent Embassy on its 40th Anniversary, in a way that only community radio could. As the drama with the Prime Minister's missing shoe unfolded, 3CR voiced the perspective of Indigenous activists without the hype and misrepresentation of the mainstream media. In this clip you can hear Lyle Munro's reaction to Tony Abbott's statement. Listen now (3.2MB / 3:25min)

Pat Etoch
Pat Etoch, blue suede shoe in hand, chats to Johnny Harding about the Prime Minister's (literal and figurative) stumble. Listen now (7.5MB / 8:11min)

Kutcha Edwards and Gilla McGuinness
Kutcha Edwards and Gilla McGuinness wrap up the day's events. Hear why "Australia Day" is more appropriately referred to as Survival or Invasion Day and how a 12 year old Gilla made his way to Canberra in 1972 stowed away in the luggage compartment of a bus. Listen now (12.9MB / 14:04min)